The Drunkard's Will

(by Gorham D. Abbott, 1833)

"I, ________, beginning to be enfeebled in body, and fearing that I may soon be palsied in mind, and having entered upon that course of drinking from which I have not resolution to flee; do make and publish this, my last will and testament--

Having been made in the image of my Creator, capable of rational enjoyment, of imparting happiness to others, and of promoting the glory of God--I know my accountability. Yet such is my fondness for sensual gratification, and my utter indisposition to resist temptation, that I give myself entirely to alcohol and its associate vices, and make the following bequests--

My property I give to be wasted--knowing it will soon fall into the hands of those who furnish me with liquor.

My reputation, already tottering on a sandy foundation--I give to destruction.

To my beloved wife, who has cheered me thus far through life--I give shame, poverty, sorrow, and a broken heart.

To each of my children--I bequeath my example, and the inheritance of the shame of their father's character.

I give my body--to disease, misery, and early death.

Finally, I give my soul, which can never die--to the disposal of that God whose commands I have broken, and who has warned me by His Word--that no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of heaven."

Drunkard, this is your will!

"Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper!" Proverbs 23:29-32

(Gracegems Editor's note: I have worked in a hospital for over 40 years--and have personally cared for hundreds of such miserable alcoholics. I assure you that the above description is not in any way, an over-statement! Drinking alcohol in moderation is certainly not a sin. Yet Christians should think hard and long, before they flaunt their liberty before weaker brethren or their children--lest they become stumbling blocks to others! The power and influence of example is enormous--especially to our children.)

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Whitefield once wrote:

I was honored today with having a few stones, dirt, rotten eggs and pieces of dead cats thrown at me.

-George Whitefield, a famous preacher who preached over 18,000 sermons between 1736-1770

In fact, John Wesley told his disciples that persecution was a mark of success: He would teach them, train them, then send them out. When they came back he would ask them two questions:

Did anyone get saved?

If they answered yes, he would keep them in his ministry. If they answered no, he would ask them another question:

Did anyone get mad?

If they answered no he would tell them,

You are not called to the ministry!

And Charles Spurgeon, called the Prince of Preachers, said this:

To be laughed at is no great hardship to me. I can delight in scoffs and jeers. Caricatures, lampoons, and slanders are my glory. But that you should turn from your own mercy, this is my sorrow. Spit on me, but, oh, repent! Laugh at me, but, oh, believe in my Master! Make my body as the dirt of the streets, but damn not your own souls!

Let the love of Jesus constrain you to go out into the highways and hedges to compel poor sinners to come in. Some may say, 'This is not proceeding with a zeal according to knowledge;' but I am persuded, when the power of religion revives, the gospel must be propagated in the same manner as it was first established, by itinerant preaching.

Go, dear sir, go and follow your glorious Master without the camp, bearing His reproach. Never fear the scourge of the tongue, ot the threatenings that are daily breathed out against the Lord, and against His Christ. Suffer we must. Ere long perhaps, we may sing in prison, and have our feet in stocks; but faith in Jesus turns a prison into a palace, and makes a bed of flames become a bed of down. Let us be faithful today, and our Lord will support us tomorrow.

George Whitefield (1749-1769) wrote

I love those that thunder out the Word. The Christian World is in a dead sleep. Nothing but a loud voice can awaken them out of it.

Chinese translation of the above:

怀特菲尔德曾经写道：“我很荣幸今天有几块石头，污物，臭鸡蛋，我扔死猫件。”乔治Whitefield的，著名的传教者之间的1736至1770年超过18000说教宣扬

事实上，约翰卫斯理告诉他的弟子的迫害，是一个成功的标志：他会教他们，培养他们，然后将它们发送出去。当他们回来时，他会问他们两个问题：“没有人得救了吗？”如果他们的回答是肯定的，他会留在他的部。如果他们回答说没有，他会问另一个问题：“有没有人生气呢？”如果他们的回答是他会告诉他们，“你是不是所谓的部！”

和查尔斯吉翁，被称为传教士王子，曾这样说：“要在没有很大的困难，我笑了。我可以高兴在嘲笑和嘲笑。漫画，讽刺和污蔑，是我的荣耀。但是，你应该从你自己的怜悯，这是我的悲哀。吐在我身上，但是，哦，忏悔！笑我，但是，呵呵，相信我的主人！的街道上的污垢，我的身体，但该死的不是你自己的灵魂！“

“让耶稣的爱限制你进入高速公路和对冲迫使贫困的罪人进来，有些人可能会说，”这不是一个根据知识的热情出发，“但我persuded，当电源宗教复兴，福音必须以同样的方式传播，因为它是流动的说教，首次建立了。
“去吧，亲爱的主席先生，在营中去，并按照你的光荣的主人，他的责备。不要害怕舌头的祸害，OT每天呼吸对主，对他的基督的threatenings。受苦，我们必须。 ，不久或许，我们可能会在监狱里唱，在我们脚下的股票，但在耶稣的信仰变成一座宫殿的一座监狱，并使得火焰床成为床上下来。让我们忠实的今天，我们的主会支持我们的明天。“
乔治Whitefield的（1749年至1769年）中写道：

“我爱那些风头出单词，说：”乔治Whitefield的。 “基督教世界是一个死的睡眠。它不过是一个响亮的声音能唤醒他们。“

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"If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point." - Martin Luther

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“There is no more room at the cross…”

One cannot rightly approach the cross if they don’t know why. In fact, those that do not know why will in fact approach; indiscriminately and will throng and gather to mock, throw insults and join in the jeering crowd. Those people do not know why the cross is there and the one upon the cross is dying. They shout, “save yourself,” or “come down from there and show us you are god.”

These eyes are shut tightly. Their hearts do not know GOD. They are altogether like their father, the devil. If they knew Him, they would do whatsoever He tells them, like little children.

The Truth is and, thus, the gospel, “Christ died for me, therefore i have been crucified with Christ.” Let’s break this statement down in pieces.

“Christ died…” This is the only context that passes the minds of those that hurl abuse at the cross. “He is dying,” they say, “let Him save himself.” O, what bitter envy and what calloused sinful hearts. O, what rebellious people who take the scene as a common marketplace event. “Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

“Christ died…for me…” Savior, at least, is the mark upon the minds who reckon this. Christ died for me? Is it a question, and will they take that question and wrestle with it and in the struggle find the answer? Or, will they lose heart and return to their deluded, self-promoting lives?

Or, have these two words become a statement that now brands their entire life. Savior, only. The words “Jesus,” are fresh upon their minds, and often. Outwardly, they have the mark of Christendom. They reckon fully that Christ has died for them and in turn live their entire lives for themselves.

“Christ died for me…therefore i…” Wrestling and darkness. I, the inevitable I, that yearns for attention and strives against the Spirit of Conviction. Yet, awakening has come and the glorious dawning of Christ upon the soul is near. Continue on, dear pilgrim, strive on. Do not grow weary in well doing…the Word, that has been planted in good soul, never returns void.

Suddenly the revelation of the gospel has penetrated their heart. There has been wrestling before God, there has been a yearning, and burning that like molten metal has run its course to a yielding heart.

“therefore i…have been crucified…” Now one identifies with the LORD upon the cross. Christ Jesus is no longer just Savior but LORD! The I has been crucified ‘with Christ’ and no longer lives…it is Christ that lives in me.

Therefore, there is no room at the cross. Do not join in the welcoming throng that hurls abuse and shouts for disgrace. Step forward, pass through the crowds and bear His reproach by joining Him on the cross. Then, you will no longer be your own, but His, who ransomed His life for our sake.

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